Wicker furniture.



F. P. DI\RCY. A WICKEB FURNITURE. APPLICATION mep DEc. 1a. 1916.

Patented Jam. 22, 1916.

C y I ATTORNEY WITNESSES 4m FRANK P. DARCY, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

WICKER FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dan. 22, ll'llll.

Application led December 18, 1916. Serial No. 137,598.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK P. DARCY, a citizenof the United States, residing at the city and county of Kalamazoo,State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWicker Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wicker furniture.

The frame members of wicker furniture, such as wicker chairs, stands,settees', and the like are commonly of small cross section and whenmortised or bored to receive a tenon or the end of a coacting framemember are weakened to a dangerous extent.

Further, such frame members are quiteV commonly bent, which furtherweakens them when mortised or bored so that they quite frequently breakor split.

I employ the term wicker herein in its broad sense and as comprehendinggrass, cane and other furniture of this type,

The main object of this invention is to provide an article of furnitureof the wicker type in which the jointed frame members are reinforced andsupported at the joints without objectionable enlargement thereof.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure I is a detail view, partially in scction, of the front leg of achair embodying the features of my invention.

Fig, II is an enlarged detail section on the line corresponding to line2--2 of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a perspective view of the reinforcing member.

Fig. IV is a detail view, partially in section. showing a. rear leg ofthe chair shown in Fig. I.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the front leg of a chair and issubstantially straight. 2 and 3 are cross bars which are provided withtenons l engaged in mortises 5 formed in the leg. To support andreinforce the leg where weakened by the mortises or bores I provide areinforce G of sheet metal curved in cross section to .embrace the legopposite the frame members 2 and 3 and disposed thereon to extend asubstantial distance at both sides of the mortises or bores. Thereinforce has holes 7 adjacent each 1ongitudinal edge adapted to receivethe tacks or screws 8. The wicker work 9 is wrapped around the leg andthe reinforce thereby concealing the same and also constituting a meansfor securing or binding it to the leg.

By this simple means the leg is effectively reinforced, and this withoutmaterially enlarging the same, so that, when wrapped, the fact that itis braced or reinforced is not apparent.

In Fig. IV the rear leg 10 is shown as curved, which is common practicein the frame-work of wicker furniture. 'I he reinforce 6 for this leg isconformed longitudinally to the curvature of the leg. In the structureillustrated the legs are provided with the rocker 11.

I have illustrated and described my improvements as applied to a chairbut it will be seen that they are equally adapted to wicker stands.tables and other furniture of this type. The reinforce, being curved incross section to embrace the member to which it is applied and beingsecured thereon both by means of the brads and the wicker wrap ping, maybe formed of light sheet metal, and at the same time is very effectiveand substantial as a reinforcing member and, as stated, it does notmaterially enlarge the frame member or change the shape thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an article of furniture of the class described, the combination ofa pair of frame members having a mortise and tenon joint, a sheet metalreinforce for the mortised frame member curved in cross section toembrace the side thereof and conformed longitudinally thereto, disposedopposite the tenoned member and extending a substan tial distance onboth sides of the mortise, said reinforce being provided withperforations adjacent its longitudinal edges and secured by tacksengaging said perforations,

lll@

and a Wicker Wrapping about said mortised member embracing andconcealing said reinforce.

2. In an article of furniture of the class described, the combination ofa pair of frame members having a mortise and tenon joint, a reinforceconformed in cross section to embrace the mortised frame member anddisposed thereon to extend on both sides of the mortise, and a WickerWrapping about said mortised member embracing and concealing saidreinforce.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two 25 Witnesses.

' FRANK P. DARCY. [Ls] Witnesses: Y

LUELLA G. GREENFIELD, MARGARET L. GLASGOW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Gominissoner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

